Summary
The author takes as inspiration for this piece the story of real life explorer, John Wesley Powell. Apparently, Powell was intent on leading the first pioneering party down the Colorado River and through this regional wilderness. The user is invited to play a crew member on the mission. At first, this text seems like a choose your own adventure. Then, as you move through the arrows, random clicks, and text boxes, you realize you're moving through the voyage with the crew via their diary entries and namesakes. Unfolding horizontally by way of a map, details of the region and exploration party are revealed textually through strategically, though oddly placed, buttons.
At the end of this text, there is a red and a green hole to click on, both providing significant amounts of background information about this voyage. The red hole leads you to the diary entries of Major Powell edited for this text, and the green leads you to a discussion of the art works included in Powell's diary, as well as photographs and other artistic renditions of the points visited along the map.
Textual Elements & Affordances
Linear primarily, but with the ability to move back and forth by manipulating the arrows
User uses red arrows to advance narrative; "key" is an option as well
Visuals are unsophisticated, sometimes surrealistic, and very very dark
Leaves the user uncertain of location which is ironic for what is supposed to be a map
Little boxes of text under designated buttons give the user information about the explorers
Commentary
This text is mostly linear and almost non-interpretive. This example of digital literature is informative with a mix of creativity, such as following the map along while learning the voyage story.
Of some interest to history buffs perhaps, but the overall experience is decidedly underwhelming. The
darkness of the piece creates an uncomfortable, dislocated experience which supports the theme. Feels like the first generation. The introduction characterizes the work as "this visually compelling landscape," but this is debatable.
Question
Both of us were underwhelmed by this text, though it is an interesting way to represent historical happenings. Were you surprised or intrigued by any element of this digital text? Would you call this digital literature?
Just a SideNote
Are those telephone towers in the background?
The author takes as inspiration for this piece the story of real life explorer, John Wesley Powell. Apparently, Powell was intent on leading the first pioneering party down the Colorado River and through this regional wilderness. The user is invited to play a crew member on the mission. At first, this text seems like a choose your own adventure. Then, as you move through the arrows, random clicks, and text boxes, you realize you're moving through the voyage with the crew via their diary entries and namesakes. Unfolding horizontally by way of a map, details of the region and exploration party are revealed textually through strategically, though oddly placed, buttons.
At the end of this text, there is a red and a green hole to click on, both providing significant amounts of background information about this voyage. The red hole leads you to the diary entries of Major Powell edited for this text, and the green leads you to a discussion of the art works included in Powell's diary, as well as photographs and other artistic renditions of the points visited along the map.
Textual Elements & Affordances
Linear primarily, but with the ability to move back and forth by manipulating the arrows
User uses red arrows to advance narrative; "key" is an option as well
Visuals are unsophisticated, sometimes surrealistic, and very very dark
Leaves the user uncertain of location which is ironic for what is supposed to be a map
Little boxes of text under designated buttons give the user information about the explorers
Commentary
This text is mostly linear and almost non-interpretive. This example of digital literature is informative with a mix of creativity, such as following the map along while learning the voyage story.
Of some interest to history buffs perhaps, but the overall experience is decidedly underwhelming. The
darkness of the piece creates an uncomfortable, dislocated experience which supports the theme. Feels like the first generation. The introduction characterizes the work as "this visually compelling landscape," but this is debatable.
Question
Both of us were underwhelmed by this text, though it is an interesting way to represent historical happenings. Were you surprised or intrigued by any element of this digital text? Would you call this digital literature?
Just a Side Note
Are those telephone towers in the background?